Familial hypercholesterolaemia: the influence of lipoprotein apheresis on choroid and retina. an oct and octa retrospective study
Purpose: High cholesterol levels in untreated familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) can significantly compromise retinal microvasculature. This type of dyslipidemia is commonly treated with combination drug therapy and lipoprotein apheresis (LA). We conducted a retrospective observational study by means of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCTA) on patients affected by familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) treated by LA and healthy controls. Methods: A group of 20 patients (40 eyes; 8 males and 12 females; mean age±SD: 50, 05±13, 68) with FH were compared to a group of 20 matched healthy controls (CT group). Inclusion criteria: genetically-confirmed diagnosis of FH, treatment with combination drug therapy and LA for at least 2 years, spherical equivalent (SE)-3 to+ 3 diopters. Exclusion criteria: pre-existent retinal or choroidal damage (including macular